Perfect Storm Brewing in Newport

By Marc D'Amico
September 30, 2010
Celtics.com

NEWPORT, R.I. - It was a cloudy and muggy afternoon in Newport, one that would lead you to believe some form of storm was on its way. But no matter how dreary the weather may have been outside, the Boston Celtics are more concerned with keeping tabs on the climate inside the Rodgers Recreation Center at Salve Regina University.

With three days of training camp now in the books, the Celtics have a firm grasp of the atmosphere that will accompany the team onto the court nearly every day for the next seven to nine months. The early feedback is that it’s packing some serious competition, but no matter how testy it may get, the C’s won’t allow their emotions to swirl out of control.

“The personnel that we have are... it’s a loose environment around here, until we hit the floor, and that’s when all hell breaks loose,” Kevin Garnett said after Thursday’s practice. “We’re very competitive, and what I love about Doc is that he doesn’t mind us being competitive as long as that we don’t go off on our own and practice doesn’t become a tropical storm.”

What Garnett means is that the team must avoid clashes of egos during their ultra competitive practice sessions. Easier said than done with a roster like this.

The Celtics’ starting five, which currently has Jermaine O’Neal starting at center, runs the court all day against a second unit that hosts four players who started for the team they played for prior the Celtics (Marquis Daniels, Shaquille O’Neal, Nate Robinson, Delonte West). The fifth reserve, Glen Davis, has been the Celtics’ spot starter in the frontcourt for two years running. That’s certainly a group that can compete on a daily basis with any starting five, no matter how loaded they are.

“[Doc] lets us be who we are, and it does get testy and very competitive in here,” Garnett said. “He lets us go, as long as we’re getting something done and goals are met for the day, he has no problem with the competition.”

Why wouldn't he? Intense competition means Rivers has a plethora of options at all five positions heading into the season.

Boston’s frontcourt depth has been well publicized, but the backcourt might be the place where Rivers is finding the most delight.

“Our guards, Nate (Robinson), (Rajon) Rondo and [Delonte West], they’re having an unbelievable camp right now,” said Rivers. When a reporter pressed for clarification, Rivers continued on to say, “Well, they’re focused, No. 1. I think Nate has figured it out so far, (that) there’s a time to be focused and serious, and then there’s a time to be Nate. And he’s done a great job of that.”

Evidence of such was as clear as ever Thursday. To end practice, the Celtics ran full-court plays, with the offense having 16 seconds to score. Robinson was playing point guard against Rondo -- an All-Star -- and helped his team shut out the starters on all three of their offensive possessions. When the second group flipped to offense, Robinson’s team ended practice quickly by scoring on a layup by Shaq, something about which the starters clearly weren’t enthused.

With a look across the court 20 minutes later, after practice had concluded, you could find Robinson running suicide sprints in Shaq’s size 22 sneakers while Pierce and Garnett used their camera phones to record the comedy. Hey, as long as it’s post-practice, right?

During practice, he’s as serious as ever, and so are the rest of his teammates. With such an incredibly deep and talented roster, it’s simply a reality that the starters won’t be able to win every possession or sleepwalk through practice. Not that any of these vets would want to do so anyway.

A roster full of veterans means a roster full of knowledge, and such is playing a role in the Celtics’ ability to separate work from play. There’s no discounting the depth of personality on this team, with loud and monstrous personalities in every corner, but Rivers knows that their experience and common goal will immerse them in the game, and nothing else, while they’re between the lines.

“I think [the players are low-maintenance] and the fact that they want to win (creates chemistry and work ethic on the court),” said Rivers. “If you took winning out of the equation, it’d be a pain in the ass for all of us. But as long as you have winning and that’s what they all want as a group and they know they need each other to get it, then I think it’ll work out.”

The Celtics have what may be the deepest team in the league, and they’re all fighting for a common goal with a competitive edge that surfaces during every minute of every practice.

That, my friends, is the perfect storm. The storm that may bring home Banner 18 in June.